Rail-bond.



o.' R. STURDEVANT'.

. RAIL BOND. Y PPLICATION FILED JUNI: 2B', i910.

" 976,947. Pacenamov. 29, 1910.

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l FA( l \\i WITNESSES IVENTOR. 7 s-5M csic CHARLES R. STURDEVANT, F WORCESTER.. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOB TO THE .AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURQ. PENNSYLVANIA. A COR- PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BAIL-BOND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, i910..

Application led .Tune 25, 1910. Serial lo. I. 58,31*?.

vani, of lVorce-ster. in the county of Torcester and State of Massachusetts, have in- -vented a new and useful Rail-Bond, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the' accompanying drawings, forming part of' this specitication. A

My invent-ion relates to rail bonds used to connect the ends of the rails for electric rai l ways, and the object of this invention is to provide a rail bond of improved const-ruc- 'tion having novel means for forming and sti tiening the lwires or conductors connecting the terminals. further object of the invention is to provide a, rail bond having novel means by whichthe conductivity of the bond is increased. j

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a horizontal cross section showing the joint between the ends of two track railswith a rail bond, constructed in accordance with my invention, as applied for'use in connecting the ends ot the rails. Fig. 2 is a-detail sectional plan showing one end ot a rail bond having a tubular terminal, constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing a like rail bond, the bend on the connecting end of the dexible member differing from that shown in F ig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are plans showing rail bonds having conductor ends constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.

6 is a. face view of the terminal shown inV Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse section, and 8 is a side elevation partly broken away, of a rail joint showing a modied form of rail bond secured in place in connecting the ends ot the rails, the dexi'ole connector in this type of bond being :formed of parallel strips of copper of rectangular cross section instead of round wires, as in the preceding figures. p o

Inv the drawings, referring to Fig. l, the

numerals 2 and 3 designate the web of two rails, the ends of which are connected by means of splice plates 4 and bolts 5. 'Secured in suitable openings in the web of the rails is a'rail bond having solid terminals 6 which are permanently secured on opposite ends of a flexible connector 7 which 1s preferably made of a piece of copper cable.

Instead of the terminals 6 being solid 'as shown in F igs...1, l, 5 and 6, they may be tubular, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the flexible portion of these bonds being made of a piece of cable of suitable length, in the same manner as the bond illustrated in Fig. 1. In

" Figs. fr' and 8, .the ends of the rails 8, 8,-are

shown connected by splice plates 9 and 10, anxd'bolts lll. Instead of the rail bond being outside of the splice 'bars as in Fig. l, the bond is inserted .the openings provided in the ends ot' the rails 8, before the splice plate 9 is pnt into place. The terminals 2` on this bond are secured together by a flexible connector' 13. which in this case is made up of thin fiat strips of copper instead of a piece of cable or rope l, in which the strands are made up of a plurality of' wires which are cylindrical in cross sect-ion In constructing the rail bonds in accordance with my invention, the terminals are rst attached to the conductors by forging or casting, or otherwise. The ends of the rail bonds are then coated or covered with a tluxing material and the terminals and adjoining end portions of the flexible conductors are then dipped into a molten bath of soldering tin alloy which firmly secures' and unites the conductor or connector wires into a solid mass for any desired length back of the terminals. The partof the conductor A adjoining the terminal is bent into the desired shape or degree of curvature, preferably 'before the dipping operations. The cross sectional area of the conductors at their ends is increased by the dipping operation, in this Way/,increasing theconductivit-y of the bond, and the coating of solder acquired in this Way improves and also makes a more rigid connection between the flexible member and the terminals. An improved union between the terminal and fieaible porand secured in place in tion is thus obtained and the conductivity of l the bond is increased.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. The bonds may be quickly ana" cheaply treated, the end portions ofthe flexible connector are permanently and rigidly formed into any4 desired bend or shape, an improved union between the terminal and conductor portions is obtained, while by the addition of more metal to the terminal ends of the conductor, the conductivity of the bond is increased.

Modications in the construction and arrangement of the parts' may be made withlout departing from my invention. The

' the conductor being coated with solder, the

solder extending any desired distance on the connector beyond the terminals toward the center of the length of the bond to Vstiften and maintain its ends in the shapeinto which the bond is bent; substantially as described. l l

2. A rail bond comprising a flexible member ,having terminals secured to theends thereof and a layer of solder on the ends of the bond adapted to stiii'en and increase the conductivity of the ends of said flexible member; substantially as described.

3. A rail bond comprising a strand of wire having a plurality ofl Wires forming a flexible connector, "solid terminals on the ends thereof and a coating of solder on the ends of the strand adapted to stiifen and unite the- Wires adjacent to the terminals into a solid connector; substantially as described.

et. A rail bond comprising solid terminals connecting the ends of a flexible member,

and a coating of solder extending inwardly from the ends of the flexible member toward ftl'ie center of its lengthv for stiffening and maintaining the coated portions thereof in the bent shape into which such portions are formed; substantially as described.

5. A rail bond comprising solid terminals connecting the ends of a plurality of Wires forming a flexible conductortherefor and a coating ofsolder on the ends of the iexible connector adjacent to the terminals to stiffen and maintain the solder coated end portions of the connector in the desired curved shape to which such end portions are bent; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES Witnesses:

F. C. ZANZIG, FRANK F. DRESSER.

n. STURDEVANT. 

